Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02565655 2006-10-26
REGISTRATION AND SCORING SYSTEM FOR SPORTS COMPETITION
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to contestant registration performance and
scoring
in competitive activities, and in particular, to equestrian and similar
competitions where
a plurality of competitors register in advance for entering one or more events
in each of
a plurality of competitions on different days sponsored or sanctioned by a
central
governing authority.
Amateur equestrian events in the United States and other countrries are run by
many local organizations under the loose authority of one or two central
governing
bodies. Notwithstanding the significant amount of information that must be
recorded
and communicated among the various competitors, event organizers, judges, and
sanctioning bodies, the information generated or used by each of these
entities is at
present entered and communicated, by written forms. Thus, the entire process
is very
labor intensive, especially from the point of view of the competitor. In
particular, the
current registration process for competitors involves multiple forms, which
are often
repetitive in nature. These forms are sometimes misdelivered via traditional
mail or
misplaced within the office of the local sponsor of the competition.
The overall process includes advance registration, checking-in, judging,
billing of
participation fees after the event, and posting of results. Registration is
typically by
paper using forms that are different for each competition. Similarly, the
judging cards
by which the competitors are evaluated for each event they have entered are
not
uniform from competition to competition. Because competitors often register
for
multiple events at a given competition, but for a variety of reasons may add
or scratch
at ringside, considerable confusion arises in subsequent billing as to whether
a
competitor actually performed in a particular event.
Furthermore, due to the delays associated with the current manual posting
method, a considerable and frustrating lag time arises throughout the
competition
season between the completion of a particular event or competition and the
availability
to competitors (and even the governing body) of the cumulative points awarded
to each
CA 02565655 2006-10-26
competitor. Thus, the point standings for year-end results and associated year-
end
awards are often miscalculated.
Presently, there is no way for competitors to access the relevant information
from all of the competitions, from a single source. Such information includes
the
contestants who have registered for a particular competition, results of the
competition,
the point standings, and the like. Although this kind of information is
eventually
accumulated by a governing body, such as the United States Association of
Equestrians (USAE), the information is not readily available to all other
interested
parties who are directly involved in the competition.
Summary of the Invention
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to automate and
integrate
the pre-competition registration, the competitor identification, participation
and scoring
for each event at a given show or competition, and the immediate communication
of the
scoring to the sanctioning body and other interested parties.
In accordance with the present invention, a computerized system and
associated process has a centralized data storage and associated processor,
for
receiving and transmitting data over a global communications network, such as
the
internet. The data storage means comprises a plurality of distinct data
content
including names of competitors and associated personal information, names of
horses
and associated biographical or medical information, the results of completed
equestrian
competitions including names and scores for each such competition, the names
of at
least one future competition, and a standard data entry form by which
competitors for a
particular future competition can register. A computer program is provided for
communicating with a multiplicity of competitors over the global
communications
network for enabling a competitor to access the competitor's biographic data,
the
competitor's equestrian data, the competitor's competitive results, and the
standard
registration form, whereby the accessed data can be entered, displayed, or
revised.
Program means are also provided for communicating directly or indirectly over
the
global communications network, with judging computers at a competition,
whereby the
2
CA 02565655 2006-10-26
results of the competition are uploaded to the central data storage facility.
A program is
associated with the judging computers for receiving and processing scores from
the
judges and associating such scores with the identified competitor immediately
upon
completion of such competitor's event at the competition. Machine-readable
means
identifying an individual competitor, such as an adhesive bar code or the
like, are
attachable to an individual competitor immediately before the competitor
begins a
particular event at a competition. Means are coupled to the judge's computer
for
reading the competitor's unique identification as attached to the competitor,
immediately before the competitor begins the event. Thus, a competitor can
register
for a competition by filling out a form remotely over the global
communications network,
the judges can identify which competitors participate in particular events of
the
competition by means of reading the competitor's unique identification
immediately
before the competitor begins such events, and the results of each event and
the entire
competition are automatically uploaded to the central data storage means for
access by
all authorized persons.
The centralized data storage means according to the invention can reside with
the governing body, or with a third party administrator working in cooperation
with the
governing body. This coordination integrates two major aspects of the
invention. First,
this internet web site enables the competitors to interactively enter and
display various
data associated with registration, points standing, schedules, and other
details
associated with particular competitions or events. Second, at such
competitions, a
barcode, scanning, or similar information gathering system linked to the web
site can
identify each competitor in an event and the scores of the judges for each
event for
processing and storage at the central web site for use by the governing body
and for
access by the competitor following the competition.
The present invention streamiines the equestrians competition industry, as
well
as any other similar competition industries, by unifying all horse show
processes and
providing single source access to participants. The barcode or similar data
gathering at
the competition permits same day data information transfer to all authorized
parties. In
particular, horse show results and other information can automatically be
transferred
3
CA 02565655 2006-10-26
via a computerized judging "card", along with the scanned barcode information
on each
exhibitor, to the web site and thus the governing body for virtually immediate
access by
any member of the governing body via internet access.
The system and process of the present invention can revolutionize the horse
show industry by eliminating the very labor intensive steps which sometimes
produces
miscalculation of horse show results and therefore point standing, as well as
the
current time lag in the transmission of results. Elimination of the paper
forms as
substituted by online entries/registration and online access to exhibitor
information, as
well as unified judging cards, avoids discrepancies between forms at different
horse
shows, and provides both rapid and fairer competition results.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an overview schematic of the system and associated process
according to the invention, which encompasses four main components that are
integrated automatically via digital computer communications;
Figure 2 is a representation of a horse/rider registration form usable with
the
invention;
Figure 3 is a representation of one form of membership card by which a
competitor can log into the horse show office at the day of the competition;
Figure 4 is a representation of a "number" worn by a competitor with attached
bar code; and
Figure 5 is a representation of a standardized judging card usable with the
invention.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Figure 1 is an overview schematic of a system for implementing one process
embodiment according to the present invention. The system encompasses four
main
components that are integrated automatically via digital computer
communications.
4
CA 02565655 2006-10-26
The first component A is physically located at the governing body facility
(e.g., USAE)
and includes a system computer 1, and associated web server 2 which can be
similar
to the web server currently in place and operated by the USAE. The USAE web
site
has a link 3 to the second major component B, which is the central
administrative
facility 4. This can be on the same premises as the first major component, or
can be
remotely connected thereto by the Internet or an Intranet. The third major
component
C is the collection of individual competitors 5 and their horses with the
attributes that
are associated with individual competitors. Each competitor may access the
administrative center via a global communications network N, such as the
Internet.
Finally, the fourth major component D is the collection of competitions or
horse shows
held by a plurality of local organizers under the auspices of the USAE. It can
be
appreciated that Figure 1 represents hardware and process steps associated
with one
of such competitions dl, but each competition would have a similar arrangement
as
indicated by the broken lines d2, d3, etc.
The administrative web site 4 has a data storage means comprising a plurality
of
distinct data content including names of competitors and associated personal
information; names of horses and associated biographical or medical
information; the
results of completed equestrian competitions including names and scores for
each
such competition; the names of at least one future competition; and a standard
data
entry form by which competitors for a particular future competition can
register.
As part of the registration process, it is preferable that the governing body
confirm participants' membership, such as on an annual basis, by mailing (or
permitting
applicants to print out iocally) membership cards 5 or the like containing
unique
barcodes associated with each member. The member (e.g., competitor) can thus
in
advance of competition, print out 6 one or more scanable stickers containing
their
barcodes, for the competitor to attach to the competitor's competition number
after it
has been assigned to them for wearing during a particular judgeable event. The
barcode can contain not only the competitor's name but also the membership
number,
the horses name, or any other information that is typically collected at
ringside before a
particular event.
5
CA 02565655 2006-10-26
A particular competitor 5 may wish to register for a plurality of events at a
plurality of competitions during the season. Rather than registering directly
with the
organizers of each competition, each competitor can register through the
administrative
site B by filling out a computerized form and transmitting it over the global
communications network N. Figure 2 is a representation of a horse/rider
registration
form usable with the present invention for multiple competitions. The form has
fields for
entry of name, personal identification number (e.g., Social Security or
driver's license
number), birth date, address, telephone number, farm identification, trainer
information,
agent information, year to date points, and year to date overall standing. The
central
administrator can optionally enter the year to date points and year to date
overall
standing based on previously accumulated data, then forward this information
in a
coordinated fashion to the organizers of each competition dl, d2, d3... etc.
The
organizers (and thus eventually the judges) can thus identify which
competitors are
registered to participate in particular events of the competition.
At a particular competition, the competitor will be assigned a number to be
worn
on the back or the like. Before attaching the number to clothing, the
competitor can
place his or her own pre-printed 6 barcode on the substrate associated with
the
number, for scanning by the judges immediately before entry into the ring.
Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the ringside coordinator has a barcode
printer 6A
that prints out scannable stickers containing the competitor's barcode
prepared from
competitor data in the office computer stored during registration or pre-
registration for
attachment to the exhibitors' numbers. These barcodes are scanned at ringside
to alert
all relevant parties that the exhibitor has entered the ring of competition.
This not only
includes the judges, but can include public address announcers, or the
operator of a
large screen display that identifies the competitor or shows a visual of the
competitor or
horse, etc. The bar code has a subset of the registration information (Fig. 2)
A horse show office administrative computer 7 such as a laptop or other device
is connectable to the central administrative computer 4 via the network N for
rapid data
transfer. This could also be implemented using either Bluetooth or 802.11 b
WLAN
wireless networking to receive data from wireless barcode scanners. The office
6
CA 02565655 2006-10-26
computer 7 manages data sent by the handheld barcode scanner 8, and downloads
the
entry data and other information from the central administrator B. The show
data, from
e.g., show office 9, event gatekeeper 10, competition results 11 and the like
are
uploaded, to the central administrative computer. Alternatively, depending on
the
coordination between the central administrator B and the governing body A,
some of
the registration and results data could be communicated directly between
competitors
and the governing body A, and between the local competition D and the
governing
body A.
The real time entry of data by the horse show coordinator at D via the laptop
7
communicates with the hand held wireless PC/barcode scanner 8, such as a
personal
digital assistant of a type that combines the function of a wireless barcode
scanner and
a personal digital assistant. This too can be equipped with either Bluetooth
or
802.11b WLAN capabilities. Various data are recorded and managed concerning
the
competitor's class, horse, payment of show fees, and the like. Data is sent to
the horse
show PC 7 to be uploaded to the administrative web site at the conclusion of
the show.
A distinct handheld wireless input devices 8 for the laptop 7 is associated
with,
for example, each of the horse show office 9, the gatekeeper 10, and the
judges 11,
respectively. Each handheld wireless user inputs data relative to their
function, which
is then conveyed to the horse show laptop 7. The horse show secretary 9 scans
the
exhibitor's barcode to access the entrance data, verifies correct information
and checks
on the billing status of the entrance. The gate keeper 10 scans the rider's
barcode
sticker affixed to the exhibitor number and lets the judges know which
exhibitor has
entered the competition ring. Even at the last moment, the competitor can add
or
scratch from the class at ringside via the gatekeeper, and this information is
transferred
to the office laptop 9 for updating the billing of competitor. The judge 11
receives
information about the individual competitors as they enter the ring, from the
gatekeeper
10. The judge inputs the rider's score and the scores are sent to the horse
show office
laptop 7, which can then be uploaded onto the central administrator web site B
for
immediate availability of standings, results, and the like.
7
CA 02565655 2006-10-26
Figure 3 is a representation of one form by which a competitor can log into
the
horse show office 9 on the day of the competition, by presenting the
membership card
with barcode, which is swiped by the secretary thereby calling up all or a
subset of the
information on the respective competitor that was originally provided upon
central
registration via the form of Fig. 2. This information would typically be at
least the
competitor's name, horse, and farm. The rider can be given a numbered vest
card or
the like at that time, with a duplicate barcode, including rider number,
printed out and
attached to the rider's card (See Figure 4 as an example). As noted above,
when the
rider enters the ring to compete, the bar code from the vest is scanned by the
gatekeeper 10. Scanning at ringside will limit billing mistakes by
automatically
transmitting classes entered into the rider's bill. Scanning at ringside also
transmits
information about the rider entering the ring to the judge, the show office
secretary, and
the announcer.
Figure 5 shows an example of a standard judging card according to the present
invention, as would be displayed on a judge's interactive electronic device.
The card
typically includes the header information for the particular event, and
numbered rows
and columns corresponding to competitors' numbers and judgable aspects of the
event. The judges link via 11, 8 and 7 into the central web site 4 where the
results are
instantaneously transmitted after each event has been judged. The show office
secretary can receive confirmation that the rider actually entered the ring
and the bill is
automatically updated as the rider enters the ring. Announcer are provided
with the
rider information on a screen as the rider is scanned entering the ring, given
them the
availability to announce the rider's information accurately and without
confusion in the
event a particular rider is added or scratched.
In can be appreciated that with the present invention, the process of
equestrian
competitions will be tremendously improved through the use of a common
reference
marker, preferably in the form of a single barcode associated uniquely with
each
competitor. It will limit errors in recording information, because the
information will be
transmitted directly from the competitor into the system, and judging results
will be
transmitted directly from the judges' card to the administrative site. The
administrative
8
CA 02565655 2006-10-26
site will automatically update itself to vertically real time results of
competitions. The
rider information will be entered and stored on the system, given each rider
instance
access to his or her competition statistics and biographical information.
Riders can
also access their standings in relation to other competitors. As with other
private or
semiprivate web site, a authorization sequence will typically be required for
every party
to log on for accessing information for display, and a higher level of
authorization
cannot optionally be provided in order to authorize such party to enter data.
As a
minimum, such authorization would be in the form of a membership number plus a
personal password.
9
